Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska is one of five Democrats being targeted in a radio ad about the fiscal cliff. / Chris Miller, AP

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

The 2012 presidential election has been over for more than a month, but Republicans and Democrats are using campaign-style tactics to deliver their messages about the "fiscal cliff."

Crossroads GPS, the big-spending independent group co-founded by GOP strategist Karl Rove, began running radio ads targeting five Democratic senators -- all up for re-election in 2014 -- urging them to support a "balanced plan" with big spending cuts. The ads criticize what the narrator says is a "one-sided plan" from President Obama calling for tax hikes.

"Both parties helped create the mess in Washington. Both parties should work together to clean it up," says the ad running in Alaska that targets Sen. Mark Begich. The other ads are aimed at Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia.

On the other side of the aisle, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) launched automated calls in 35 House districts targeting Republicans -- or what the group calls "hostage takers." The idea is to get these Republicans to sign what is called a discharge petition, which would require a vote to be scheduled on a bill to extend tax cuts on people making less than $250,000.

"Tea Party House Republicans can't defend holding the middle class hostage and threatening a $2,200 tax increase in order to get more budget-busting tax cuts for millionaires," Rep. Steve Israel of New York, chairman of the House Democrats' campaign arm, said in a statement.

The DCCC says 178 House members have signed the discharge petition, which requires 218 signatures to get a vote scheduled on legislation. Over 40,000 people have signed another petition that supports the Democrats, on a website called GOP Hostage Takers.

The president and Congress are trying not to go over the so-called fiscal cliff, when automatic spending cuts and higher tax rates are scheduled to take effect at the beginning of the new year.